Body parts are ideal early Arabic because children can point, touch and move while they learn.
Ten first words
| Arabic | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| رَأْس | ra’s | head |
| شَعْر | sha‘r | hair |
| عَيْن | ‘ayn | eye |
| أُذُن | udhun | ear |
| أَنْف | anf | nose |
| فَم | fam | mouth |
| أَسْنَان | asnan | teeth |
| يَد | yad | hand |
| بَطْن | batn | tummy |
| رِجْل | rijl | leg / foot |
Games
- Point and say: you say the word, your child touches that part.
- Simon says in Arabic: “Simon says touch your أَنْف.”
- Drawing: draw a person together and label it in Arabic.
- Bath time: name each part as it is washed.
The wudu link
Wudu uses many of these words: washing the يَد, فَم, أَنْف, face (وَجْه), رَأْس, أُذُن and feet. Naming the parts in Arabic while making wudu teaches both at once.
Add “my”
Add ي for “my”: رَأْسِي (my head), يَدِي (my hand). Now your child can say “my tummy hurts” in Arabic: بَطْنِي يُؤْلِمُنِي.
Teacher’s tip: learn three words a day for four days, then play Simon says on day five. Ten words in under a week.
